A phase I study of S-1 in combination with sorafenib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Abstract

447 Background: S-1 is an oral anticancer agent combining tegafur, a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil, with 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine and potassium oxonate. The purpose of this study was to confirm the recommended dose (RD) and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of S-1 in combination with sorafenib, a small molecular inhibitor of several tyrosine protein kinase, in Japanese patients with mRCC. We assessed dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and pharmacokinetic interactions during the first cycle of treatment. Methods: Eligible patients had a histologically confirmed diagnosis of clear cell or papillary mRCC, measurable lesions, a history of no previous treatment or not more than 1 regimen of cytokine treatment, an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1, prior nephrectomy, and adequate organ functions. In this study, four dose levels were prepared, and the starting dose was set at Level 1B. S-1 was administered on days 1 to 28, and sorafenib was given on days 1 to 42 as one cycle. The MTD was assessed using a “3 + 3” dose escalation design and was defined as the highest dose level for which the incidence of DLTs was less than 33%. Results: Between August 2009 and March 2010, 9 patients were enrolled. Two DLTs occurred in patients assigned to level 2, which was the full therapeutic dose of each agent. Therefore, the MTD was not confirmed, but the RD was determined to be level 2. Although renal clearance affected the pharmacokinetics of S-1, there were no obvious drug interactions between S-1 and sorafenib. Details are shown in the Table. Conclusions: This combination therapy can be administered with acceptable tolerability, no overlapping toxicity, and no drug interactions. The RD for phase II studies was fixed at level 2, and a phase II study is ongoing. [Table: see text]